I know Cantonese(粵語) is the most widely spoken language in Hong Kong.
Many Hong Kong people speak Cantonese as their first language.

Then what is Hong Kong people's second language?
Is it English or Mandarin(Putonghua普通話)?
Which language do Hong Kong people generally speak better?

The reason that Mandarin became a national language has to do with the political power vested in the Northerners and that the capital is at Beijing. If Sun Yat Sen, after he overthrew the Qing government were to start the national capital in Guangdong province, would that make Cantonese the national language?

I am chinese, but was born in the states and English is my primary language. When I was little, my parents spoke cantonese a lot so now I can speak it very well. I can understand a little bit of mandarin, but I can't write chinese at all. Can I take chinese as a course in college? In other words, would it be okay for me to take chinese even though I understand it a little? Would it be weird?

I am curious, if supposedly Mandarin came before Cantonese, how can it be explained that poems, existing before the Ming dynasty which supposedly when Mandarin originated, have more rhythm in Cantonese?

How can I learn the chinese languages mandarin & cantonese ? I don't have any money to go into an extra class in my school or to take classes outside of school, how can I learn these languages ? There is an chinese girl in school who i want to date so i want to learn chinese to talk to her.

I work with on old Asian woman. I try to be friendly with her. She has tried to show me some words I just don't have a grasp for it. She only knows a few words English. I asked her once what is her language was I asked Mandarin or Cantonese. She said Cantonese.

I would like to know my name in Chinese/Pinyin. Where can I do so?
I'd like to translate it to Cantonese.

Do you think Cantonese(Used in Hong Kong and Guangdong ,China)is the most difficult language in the world?

I'm making a website with options for Mandarin and Cantonese translations. What are the Chinese characters for "Chinese" ( in Mandarin) and "Chinese" (in Cantonese )

I know the two most widely used are Cantonese and Mandarin, and I would like to learn the one that is most used out of those because so many people speak Chinese, it's just insane. Well anyways, which of these is most widely used around the world? P.S. Which is harder? P.P.S. Could I learn both if I was really determined?

Cantonese people live in the PRC, and the language preferred by the Central government is Mandarin (And it is the Language of the majority of the people - 850 million).

So, how does Mandarin compare to English as a second language?

Do Cantonese people prefer to learn Mandarin BEFORE English, as a second language?

Do more Cantonese people (Those living in PRC) speak English than Mandarin?

And yes I know Mandarin and Cantonese share the same character system, but I am asking about SPOKEN language

Thank you very much

I am a private employee who needs to learn Mandarin and or Cantonese as secondary language. How long do you think would it take me before I learn how to speak and understand these languages? specific time frame please.

I know that Chinese (in all its dialects, whether Mandarin, Cantonese, etc.) is very difficult for native English-speakers to learn particularly because the tonal system makes a word have different meanings.

For instance, the word "tianming" means both "sunrise" and "Mandate of Heaven", but it's pronounced in different tones to differentiate the two meanings.

How do tone-deaf people in China learn their native language?

Is the Chinese surname 孫 pronounced the same in Mandarin and Cantonese? If there are any differences, what are they?

* Note 孫 can also be written as 孙.

How do I say these in Cantonese: (oh, and dont use the actual chinese characters to answer...just spell out the pronounciations):

- Hello.
- What's Up?
- I hate myself.
- Everybody knows my secret.
- My name is ________.
- My telephone number is __________.
(I want the answers in cantonese)

so i met this guy. he's half viet and half chinese. but instead of saying chinese, he says cantonese-chinese. or something along those lines. because my other friend says she speaks cantonese and is catonese. or is it both?

Can any regular viewers of the PCNE channel (available in Europe via Sky digital, 28.5E) tell me whats the balance in approximate percentage terms of the amount of programming it provides in Mandarin and Cantonese?

I'm more interested in Cantonese programming and news, i.e. do they have regular news reports/programs in Cantonese on this channel?

Does programming in Mandarin have subtitles?

Thank you.

I am thinking of learning Mandarin, however I am not sure of the benefits (business and social) as most people seem to be speaking Cantonese in the country, especially in Kuala Lumpur.